Windows update problems

Hi, am running Windows 8.1 but have a problem with Windows Update settings.

The recommended setting is "install updates automatically" which I had chosen for the past year or so. Recently though I got a flag indication to advise to Solve PC issues: The message being to change my Windows Update settings. On checking I found the settings were on "Let me Choose" I changed them to install updates automatically. Unfortunately this choice does not remain. On a reboot the setting reverts to Let me Choose. I don't seem to have any problems with the computer or updates - updates are installing but the setting defaults to Let me choose following every restart.

I have carried out sfc/scannow and dism check which showed 2 corrupt files: 1 - Cannot repair member file [l:24{12}]"utc.app.json" 2 - Cannot repair member file [l:66{33}]"telemetry.ASM-WindowsDefault.json". I found on this site that the identification of these files being corrupt was wrong and that it was in fact due to a fault with a Windows update KB3022345. I'm quite happy to accept the advice given to ignore these files but they don't appear to be connected with the choice of Update settings.

Having decided to live with what is more an irritation than a problem I then got a message asking if I wanted to upgrade to Windows 10. I accepted this invite but was left with an icon on my taskbar 'Get Windows 10'. I had a confirmation message that I had accepted Windows 10 but could not get rid of this icon. I learnt this was due to a Windows Update KB 3035583 and that uninstalling it would get rid of the icon. Unfortunately I do not appear to be able to uninstall any updates, barring the latest one. Right clicking on the latest update I get the option to uninstall but nothing on any other update.

I considered following one website advice and going into the registry but I'm not that savvy to manage registry edits without causing major problems.

I had a thought that my problems with updates might be due to some permissions of some sort set on the computer but its a home computer with me as sole user and as best I have been able to determine there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to specify settings or delete updates.

I know the issues I'm having are minor in relation to some situations people face but became concerned when I found a second issue relating to Windows Updates as I'd like to solve a small problem rather than a major one.

I'd appreciate any advice or push in a direction that would resolve these issues. Thank you. Wavly

Re: Windows update problems

Hi and welcome to Sysnative. Sorry for the delay.

The recommended setting is "install updates automatically" which I had chosen for the past year or so. Recently though I got a flag indication to advise to Solve PC issues: The message being to change my Windows Update settings. On checking I found the settings were on "Let me Choose" I changed them to install updates automatically. Unfortunately this choice does not remain. On a reboot the setting reverts to Let me Choose. I don't seem to have any problems with the computer or updates - updates are installing but the setting defaults to Let me choose following every restart.

Very weird problem indeed. We'll check to make sure you don't have any Windows Update/Servicing issues and then we can look at this if it's still an issue.

I had a confirmation message that I had accepted Windows 10 but could not get rid of this icon. I learnt this was due to a Windows Update KB 3035583 and that uninstalling it would get rid of the icon. Unfortunately I do not appear to be able to uninstall any updates, barring the latest one. Right clicking on the latest update I get the option to uninstall but nothing on any other update.

You really don't want to uninstall this update. If you do, you won't get your free Windows 10 update. You need to keep this icon there until the update gets downloaded near the end of July. If you really want to get rid of it (I don't recommend this) you can follow the instructions here.

So let's get started and check out your machine for issues. Please do the following.

Re: Windows update problems

Originally Posted by BrianDrab

Hi and welcome to Sysnative. Sorry for the delay.

The recommended setting is "install updates automatically" which I had chosen for the past year or so. Recently though I got a flag indication to advise to Solve PC issues: The message being to change my Windows Update settings. On checking I found the settings were on "Let me Choose" I changed them to install updates automatically. Unfortunately this choice does not remain. On a reboot the setting reverts to Let me Choose. I don't seem to have any problems with the computer or updates - updates are installing but the setting defaults to Let me choose following every restart.

Very weird problem indeed. We'll check to make sure you don't have any Windows Update/Servicing issues and then we can look at this if it's still an issue.

I had a confirmation message that I had accepted Windows 10 but could not get rid of this icon. I learnt this was due to a Windows Update KB 3035583 and that uninstalling it would get rid of the icon. Unfortunately I do not appear to be able to uninstall any updates, barring the latest one. Right clicking on the latest update I get the option to uninstall but nothing on any other update.

You really don't want to uninstall this update. If you do, you won't get your free Windows 10 update. You need to keep this icon there until the update gets downloaded near the end of July. If you really want to get rid of it (I don't recommend this) you can follow the instructions here.

So let's get started and check out your machine for issues. Please do the following.

Re: Windows update problems

Hi, Thanks for your reply. This is a bit of an adventure for me. I'm going into areas I've not gone before. I'll heed your advice and leave the Windows 10 icon alone - it was only to try and clean up things that I didn't use that made me think about removing it - and then only after reading an article elsewhere.

I've carried out your instructions regarding the scan and the link to access the result is here:

This was a new experience for me. I've never used one drive before and didn't know anything about it but you make everything clear and easily understood I've had no problems understanding what's required.

Re: Windows update problems

Thank you for the information. That log looks good. Now, let's do the following.

Step#1 - DISM /RestoreHealth ScanWarning:this fix is specific to the user in this thread. No one else should follow these instructions as it may cause more harm than good. If you are after assistance, please start a thread of your own.

Once it finishes, copy and paste the following into the command-prompt window and press Enter. If prompted to overwrite the existing file go ahead.copy %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log "%userprofile%\Desktop\cbs.txt"

Once this has completed please go to your Desktop and you will find CBS.txt => Please zip/upload to this thread.Please Note:: if the file is too big (over 7MB) to upload to your next post, please upload via a service such as Dropbox or One Drive or SendSpace and just provide the link.

Re: Windows update problems

Originally Posted by BrianDrab

Thank you for the information. That log looks good. Now, let's do the following.

Step#1 - DISM /RestoreHealth ScanWarning:this fix is specific to the user in this thread. No one else should follow these instructions as it may cause more harm than good. If you are after assistance, please start a thread of your own.

Once it finishes, copy and paste the following into the command-prompt window and press Enter. If prompted to overwrite the existing file go ahead.copy %windir%\logs\cbs\cbs.log "%userprofile%\Desktop\cbs.txt"

Once this has completed please go to your Desktop and you will find CBS.txt => Please zip/upload to this thread.Please Note:: if the file is too big (over 7MB) to upload to your next post, please upload via a service such as Dropbox or One Drive or SendSpace and just provide the link.

Re: Windows update problems

OK looks good. Your logs are clear of corruption. Let's see if the following issue still exists.

The recommended setting is "install updates automatically" which I had chosen for the past year or so. Recently though I got a flag indication to advise to Solve PC issues: The message being to change my Windows Update settings. On checking I found the settings were on "Let me Choose" I changed them to install updates automatically. Unfortunately this choice does not remain. On a reboot the setting reverts to Let me Choose. I don't seem to have any problems with the computer or updates - updates are installing but the setting defaults to Let me choose following every restart.

Re: Windows update problems

Originally Posted by BrianDrab

OK looks good. Your logs are clear of corruption. Let's see if the following issue still exists.

The recommended setting is "install updates automatically" which I had chosen for the past year or so. Recently though I got a flag indication to advise to Solve PC issues: The message being to change my Windows Update settings. On checking I found the settings were on "Let me Choose" I changed them to install updates automatically. Unfortunately this choice does not remain. On a reboot the setting reverts to Let me Choose. I don't seem to have any problems with the computer or updates - updates are installing but the setting defaults to Let me choose following every restart.

I already have 146 updates installed and I have 9 due, which I have avoided downloading since starting this thread. The summary when I go into Windows Update reads Updates were installed: Never.

When I rebooted after changing the settings to update automatically that was the setting showing. I rebooted a further twice each time going into my gmail account and looking at messages. The automatic update setting remained. The fourth time I rebooted the flag message read "Solve PC issues 1 message".
The update setting was back to "Let me choose". In the update summary it showed Updates were installed at 05:58 (This was about the time I had last logged on) but no new updates showed in the list of installed updates, the total number number installed was still 146 and I still had 9 to install.

I mentioned this problem to others before finding sysnative and was told such a condition was not possible, which had me doubting myself, so at least now, after following your guidance, I know that something isn't right?

Re: Windows update problems

Thanks for the info. Please do the following.

Step#1 - Run Windows Repairs
1. Download Windows Repair (All-in-One) Portable to your desktop.
2. Once the file is downloaded, right-click on the file on your desktop and choose Extract All...
3. Keep the defaults and click the Extract button.
4. A folder named tweaking.com_windows_repair_aio will be extracted to the desktop. Once the extraction is complete the folder will open.
5. Inside this folder, there is a folder named Tweaking.com - Windows Repair. Open this folder as well.

6. Double-click on Repair_Windows.exe to open.
7. When the program opens, click the Repairs tab and click the Open Repairs button.
8. A backup of your registry will be made. After a few moments you will have many options from which you can choose.
9. Please click the Unselect All button and then click to enable only the following ones:
01 - Reset Registry Permissions
02 - Reset File Permissions
03 - Reset Service Permissions
04 - Register System Files
05 - Repair WMI
06 - Repair Windows Firewall
10 - Remove Policies Set By Infection
13 - Repair Winsock & DNS Cache
15 - Repair Proxy Settings
17 - Repair Windows Updates
21 - Repair MSI (Windows Installer)

10. Ensure the Restart check box is selected and click the Start Repairs button in the lower right of the screen. This may take some time to run so be patient.
11. Once the fixes are complete you will be prompted to restart your machine. Answer Yes.

Re: Windows update problems

Hi Brian

Carried out the Windows repair as directed and it looked like it performed as it should. Afterwards I changed the update setting to automatic. On the third reboot the setting was back to 'let me choose'.

Re: Windows update problems

Thanks. Please do the following.

Step#1 - SFCFix ScriptWarning: this fix is specific to the user in this thread. No one else should follow these instructions as it may cause more harm than good. If you are after assistance, please start a thread of your own.

Download SFCFix.exe (by niemiro) and save this to your Desktop. If you still have this on your desktop from downloading previously, you don't need to re-download.

Download the file below, SFCScript.txt, and save this to your Desktop.

Save any open documents and close all open windows.

On your Desktop, you should see two files: SFCFix.exe and SFCScript.txt.

Drag the file SFCScript.txt onto the file SFCFix.exe and release it.

SFCFix will now process the script.

Upon completion, a file should be created on your Desktop: SFCFix.txt.

Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V) the contents of this file into your next post for me to analyse please

Re: Windows update problems

Re: Windows update problems

Hi Brian

Following your last post I changed update settings to automatic. shut down and re-booted about 6 times. The settings remained. The next time I re-booted the flag came back telling me to solve PC issues. The setting had reverted to let me choose.